Editing Tricks for Amateur Vacation Video #31

Nepal 2000:  Mount Everest

This is the first of three clips from our second trip to the India subcontinent.  These were also the first videos I produced 100% digitally, using the previously discussed Pinnacle Studio DV.  My Windows PC sputtered, gasped, and crashed multiple times but was able to output these three edits before in-between upgrades of hardware and software.

This six-minute video actually tells a story!  Beginning with title, map, and a waving brochure we know that this will be a sightseeing flight to the Himalayas on Buddha Air.  Beginning with a lot of humor, the viewer knows they will enjoy their time with these tourists!

I remember the view being more spectacular than what shows on the video.  Perhaps it's the cabin windows? Maybe a filter on the camera lens could have better presented the mountains' beauty?  I'm also disappointed that most of the views are vignetted by the cabin portholes. 

Clips from inside the aircraft are well chosen, and a humorous finish is achieved with the use of closing titles.  The choice of music is superb, though it is unfortunately copyrighted.  [Up Where We Belong performed by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes]

This was a nice, enjoyable movie.  I'm proud of this early effort.  Like most travel video it could benefit from deletion or shortening of a few clips.  

Lessons Learned:

Tell a story.

Carefully frame the shot.  Use a color monitor to assure the beauty is being recorded.

Suggestion:

Replace the music with a royalty-free selection.

Try to digitally enhance the color of scenes shot through the aircraft windows.

Music Copyright Considerations:

This is a short excerpt from one of my older edited videos.  It contains some identifiable music that is regrettably used without permission.  But remember the time this video was created; in 1997 the audience for this production was usually sitting in my living room.  "Fair Use" allowed me to use the music without consideration of copyright.

Today, with digital distribution, artists' rights deserve more attention.  Since this video is intended for non-profit illustration and educational purposes only, I believe that valid arguments can be made for its "Fair Use" in this situation.  Please understand that I do not encourage improper use of copyrighted material.